Refrigerator



Nov 10, 1936. H. RUFENER ET AL 2,060,694

REFRIGERATOR Filed Dec. 22, 1930 j ver UV m a o kg Patented Nov. 10, 1936' REFRIGERATOR Hans Rufener and Theophil Eichmann, Bern, Switzerland, assignors, by mesne assignments, to International Carbonic Engineering Company, Kennett Square, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1930, Serial No. 504,094 In Germany and Switzerland December 24, 1929 30 Claims. (Cl. 62-91.5)

This invention relates to ice-cooled refrigerators of the kind wherein a bell-jar having double evacuated walls is arranged directly above the cooling chamber for covering over a block of refrigerant, such as carbon dioxide, which is known in the trade as dry ice.

In refrigerators or cold cupboards of this kind known heretofore the lower edge of the bell-jar is insulated, that is to say it does not extend down into the cooling chamber. In contradistinction thereto, according to the present invention the bell-jar is lowered so far into the top wall of the refrigerator that its lower edge extends into the cooling chamber so that the cold conveyed to its wall at the lower part of the bell-jar is usefully employed and is effective in the cooling chamber.

Conveniently, means for supporting the bell-jarv serves simultaneously as insulating means which may consist of a rubber collar stretched around the periphery of the bell-jar.

This collar may have at its upper edge a flange on which is fastened a hood placed over the belljar so that the collar, bell-jar and hood can be removed together from the top Wall of the refrigerator.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way of example in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section, and

Figure 2 is a detail section taken on the line 11-11 in Figure l showing a preferred construction of refrigerator according to the invention.

Like reference characters designate like parts 5 in both views.

The refrigerator illustrated has the form of a cupboard and comprises a cooling chamber 3 for the reception of goods to be kept cold, which chamber can be closed at one side by a door 2.

40 The walls of the refrigerator and the door are well insulated in known manner against the admission of heat. The top wall of the refrigerator has an aperture 4 having a liner 5 of rubber or other convenient material. The inner face of the top 45 wall lies inside the liner 5 so that it forms a rubber-covered shoulder 6 for a rubber collar 1 which is stretched around a glass bell-jar 8 having double evacuated walls so that it is carried thereby so as to be adjustable in height. The collar 1 50 has at its upper edge a flange 9 which bears on the top end of the covering 5 let into the wall of the refrigerator.

The glass bell-jar 8 is covered with a protective hood l2'which has its lower edge turned outwards 55 and attached to the flange 9, e. g. affixed by an adhesive thereto. When the hood I2 is lifted the collar 1 with the bell-jar 8 will be removed from the top wall of the refrigerator, whereupon a new block of refrigerant can be inserted from above through the opening 4. The glass bell-jar is so 5 adjustably carried by the collar 1 that its lower part extends into the cooling chamber 3.

A casing or box l4 having an outwardly splayed flange I5 is suspended by the latter from two horizontal ribs l3 that project inwards from op- 10 posite side walls of the cooling chamber. The box I4 has an aperture IS in its top wall and carries a block l8 of refrigerant, on an annular plate or slab ll of material, e. g. wood, that is a poor conductor of heat. The diameter of the plate I! is 15 rather less than the internal diameter of the belljar 8 so that the sublimation vapors of the ice can escape unhindered between the glass Wall and the plate H. In order that thesaid vapors may escape as freely as possible the flange l5 has a 20 number of perforations 19. But in order to compel the sublimation vapors that have escaped from the glass bell-jar to flow downwards through the holes 19, the flange I5 is provided on three sides with an upwardly directed rib 20 which pre- 25 vents them from escaping laterally.

The box I4 has an inner lining 2| of material of low thermal conductivity, e. g. wood or papiermach and serves for holding a tray or dish 22 for forming fruitice, glac or the like. At the 30 front the box I4 is closed by a slanting cover 23. The evaporation gas from the ice can pass downwards through the aperture in the plate I! into the box H, in which the goods are cooled to a low temperature. It will now be explained that an improved refrigerating effect as compared with known refrigerators of the kind described is obtained by the improved sunk arrangement of the bell-jar.

When the lower edge of the glass bell-jar is insulated the cold of 80 C.=112 F. in the inner glass wall creeps to the outer glass wall and is there partly incorporated in the insulation and the cold creeping further along the outer glass wall is given up to the outer air. This cooling effect is thus completely lost. When, on the contrary, according to the present invention the glass bell-jar is sunk into' the cooling chamber, by far the greater part if the cold creeping over the lower edge of the jar is delivered to the cooling chamber. The outer downwardly extending wall of the jar is warmed by the air of the cooling chamber, and consequently a correspondingly less quantity of cold is given up by the glass bell-jar to the insulation. Accordingly a lesser quantity of cold can rise in the outer glass wall and pass into the atmosphere.

The gain in cold obtained by the improved sunk arrangement as compared with the known arrangement of the glass bell-Jar is seen from the following heat-transmission equation:

Q=FXKXtXZ wherein: Q=quantity of cold in kg./cal./day F=cross section of the outer glass wall of the double walled glass bell-jar t=temperature difference of the glass inside and outside the cooling chamber, and Z=time in hours.

In the construction in question 1":021 r 0.0025, where 0.21 is the diameter and 0.0025 the thickness of the glass in meters t=+25-(80)=105 C. (-80 C. temperature of dry ice) I: K=J

(when k is the thermal coeillcient of Jena steel glass and d is the length of insulated glass).

K= -=8.2 cal./1 hour/1 C./rn.

Q=0.00165 8.2 l05 24=34.2 caL/daY.

The cooling effect Q corresponds to a consumption of dry ice of g-%=228 gr. dry ice (cooling effect of 1 kg. dry ice=150 cal.).

This result assumes 100% insulation of the glass bell-jar. In practise these values are increased considerably. Thus exceedingly exact tests have shown that these losses amount to from 350 to 400 gr. per diem. Since only 1 to V2 kg. dry ice is required daily for the useful output of the refrigerator a saving of from 350 to 400 gr. dry ice per day is a very considerable increase in the emciency of the refrigerator according to the present invention as compared with known refrigerators of the type described wherein the bell-Jar does not extend down into the cooling chamber.

The invention is not restricted to the precise constructional details enumerated.

We claim:-

1. A refrigerator comprising, in combination, a cooling chamber having an apertured plate mounted in said cooling chamber below the top wall thereof for carrying a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon, a bell-jar having a double evacuated wall extending through an aperture in said top wall for covering the block of refrigerant, and means for carrying the bell-jar at such a height that its lower edge lies in the cooling chamber a distance below the top wall and is spaced from and around the periphery of the plate to form a passage for gas from the lower end of the bell-jar into the cooling chamher.

2. A refrigerator comprising, in combination, a cooling chamber having an apertured top wall,

:an apertured plate mounted in said cooling chamber spaced below the top wall thereof for supporting a block of refrigerant, an inverted bell-Jar having a double evacuated wall extending through the top wall for covering the block of refrigerant, and supporting means for carrying the bell-jar at such a height that its lower edge lies in the cooling chamber and surrounds the plate, said supporting means providing ther- 'mal insulation for the bell-Jar.

3. A refrigeratorhaving a cooling chamber provided with a top wall having an aperture therethrough, an apertured plate mounted in said cooling chamber below the top wall thereof for carrying a block of refrigerant, a bell-Jar having a double evacuated wall extending through the aperture in said top wall for covering a block of ice on said plate, and a collar of heat insulating elastic material yieldably confined on and around said bell-jar and arranged to support the latter in the aperture in the top wall at such a height that the lower edge of the bell-jar lies within the cooling chamber and surrounds the refrigerant carrying plate.

4. A refrigerator having a cooling chamber provided with a top wall formed with an aperture therethrough, a perforated plate mounted in said cooling chamber spaced a distance below the top wall thereof for carrying a block of refrigerant, a bell-jar having a double evacuated wall extending through said top wall aperture for covering a block of refrigerant carried on said plate, a

collar of heat insulating material stretched around said bell-jar and having at its upper end a flange bearing on. said top wall to support the bell-jar in said aperture at such a height that the lower edge of the bell-jar lies within the cooling chamber, and a hood placed over the bell-jar and aflixed to said flange, whereby said bell-Jar, collar and hood can be removed as a unit from the said top wall.

5. A refrigerator having a top wall formed with an aperture therethrough, a plate mounted in the cooling chamber beneath the top wall aperture and spaced a distance below thetop wall for carrying a block of refrigerant extending therefrom up through the top wall aperture, a bell-jar having a double evacuated wall extending down through said top wall aperture to said plate for covering a block of refrigerant on the plate, the lower end of said bell-jar surrounding the refrigerant carrying plate, and means in the top wall aperture supporting and positioning the bell-jarin relation to said plate.

6. A refrigerator having a cooling chamber provided with a top wall formed with an aperture therethrough, a cooling box mounted in said chamber, a plate of heat insulating material carried by said box beneath said aperture and spaced a distance below said top wall, an inverted bell-jar having a double evacuated wall, and a collar of heat insulating material stretched around said jar and having at its upper end a flange bearing on said top wall around said aperture and thereby supporting the jar in said aperture at such a height that its lower edge surrounds said plate.

7. A refrigerator having a cooling chamber provided with a top wall formed with an aperture therethrough, a cooling box mounted in said chamber below the top wall aperture, a plate of heat insulating material carried by said box below said aperture and in register therewith, an inverted bell-Jar having a double evacuated wall, a rubber collar yieldably confining said jar, said collar having a flange at its upper end bearing on the top wall around the aperture therein and thereby removably supporting the Jar in said aperture at a height that its lower edge surrounds said plate and isannularly spaced from the periphery thereof to form a passage from the jar into the cooling box, and a hood placed over said jar and aillxed to said flange.

8. A refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin provided with a top wall formed with a' vertical aperture therethrough, a cooling compartment forming structure mounted in the cooling chamber below the top wall aperture, a plate of heat insulating material carried by the compartment structure in position beneath and spacedbelow the top wall aperturefor supporting a block of refrigerant, an inverted heat insulated bell-jar extending down through the top wall aperture, a heat insulating material collar fitted around said bell-jar and having an upper end flange therearound bearing on said top wall around the aperture to removably support the bell-jar in position in and extending downwardly through the top wall aperture, said collar and flange supporting the bell-jar at such a height that the lower edge thereof'surrounds said heat insulating plate and is spaced therearound to provide a passage from the interior of the bell jar to the cooling chamber.

9. A refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin, the top wall of said chamber being provided with a vertical aperture therethrolmh from the exterior of the refrigerator to the chamber, a plate member mounted in the cooling chamber beneath the top wall aperture but spaced a distance below the top wall, said plate member adapted to receive the lower end of andsupport a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon, a belljar having a double evacuated wall extending downwardly through the top wall aperture for fitting down over and covering a block of refrigerant on said plate member, said plate member being supported independently of said belljar, and the said bell-jar extended downwardly through the cooling chamber to the refrigerant supporting plate member to enclose the lower end portion of a block of refrigerant thereon, whereby the wall of the jar between the top wall and the plate member encloses the lower end portion of the refrigerant block and is directly exposed in and to the cooling chamber.

10. A refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin, the top wall of said chamber being provided with a vertical passage of relatively large diameter therethrough, means within the cooling chamber beneath the top wall passage but spaced 2. distance below the top wall for receiving and supporting a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon extending upwardly therefrom, a glass bell-jar having double evacuated walls, said bell jar mounted in, closing and extending downwardly through the top wall passage to the refrigerant supportingmeans within the cooling chamber for fitting down over and covering a block of refrigerant on said means, the jar glass walls within the cooling chamber between the top'wall and the refrigerant supporting means being directly. exposed to the cooling chamber, and the lower .surface of the wall of the vessel between the refrigerator wall and the end of the vessel within the cooling chamber directly exposed thereto, and said means providing for escape of refrigerant gas from the inner end of the vessel.

12. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, a vacuum insulated bell-jar mounted extending downwardly through the top wall of the refrigerator a. distance intothe cooling chamber, means at the lower end of the bell-Jar supported independently of the jar within the cooling chamber for supporting a block of solidified gas refrigerant within and substantially covered by the bell-jar, the exterior surface of the wall of the bell-jar within the cooling chamber between the top wall and the inner end of the jar directly exposed to. the chamber, and said refrigerant supporting means providing for escape of refrigerant gas from the inner end of the jar at the lower edge thereof into the cooling chamber.

13. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, a vacuum insulated bell-jar removably mounted in and extending downwardly through the top wall of the refrigerator a distance into the cooling chamber thereof, means at the lower end of the bell-jar within the cooling chamber for supporting a block of solidified gasrefrigerant within and substantially covered by the belljar, said means providing a passage between such means and the lower edge of the bell-jar for escape of refrigerant gas from the lower end of the jar, and adjustable supporting means whereby the bell-jar and said means are relatively movable to adjust said passage for regulation of gas escape.

14 In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin, the top wall of said chamber formed with a vertical aperture therewithin, an insulating material plate member mounted in the cooling chamber beneath the top wall aperture but spaced a distance below the top wall for supporting a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon, a heat insulated vessel removably mounted in inverted position in and extending downwardly through the top wall aperture to the plate member for covering refrigerant on said member, the open lower end of said vessel extending to and spaced around the plate member to form a passage between the member and the lower end of the vessel for escape of refrigerant gas into the cooling chamber, and means adjustably supporting the vessel in said top wall for regulating the vertical position of the vessel relative to the plate member.

15. In a refrigerator. having a cooling chamber therein, the top wall of said chamber having a vertical aperture therethrough, a cooling compartment forming structure within the cooling chamber spaced a distance below the top wall and having an upper side opening beneath the top wall aperture, an insulating material plate member mounted on the cooling compartment structure over the upper side opening therein for supporting a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon, a heat insulated vessel mounted in inverted position in and extending downwardly through the top wall aperture to the plate member for fitting down over and covering refrigerant thereon, said plate member formed with an opening therethrough for passage of refrigerant gas into the cooling compartment structure, and

cooling chamber.

16. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, the top wall of said chamber having a vertical aperture therethrough, a cooling compartment forming structure mounted in the cooling chamber spaced a distance below the top wall of the compartment, said structure having an upper side opening therethrough beneath the top wall aperture, an insulating material member mounted on the upper side of said structure over the opening therein and adapted to receive and support a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon. said member formed with a passage therethrough for downward flow of refrigerant gas into the cooling compartment structure, and a heat insulated vessel mounted in inverted position in and extending downwardly through the top wall aperture to said refrigerant supporting insulating member for fitting down over and covering refrigerant thereon, and the lower open end of said vessel fitting down over and surrounding said insulating material member but spaced therefrom to form a passage therearound for refrigerant gas flow outwardly from the lower end of the vessel into the cooling chamber.

17. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, in combination, a cooling compartment forming structure within the cooling chamber, and a heat insulated enclosure for a solidified gas refrigerant at the upper side of said compartment forming structure, said enclosure including an insulating material refrigerant support at the lower side thereof and providing a passage for flow of refrigerant gas from the enclosure into the compartment, formed by said structure, the said enclosure providing a separate passage for refrigerant gas flow outwardly therefrom into the cooling chamber of the refrigerator.

18. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, the top wall of the cooling chamber formed with a vertical aperture therethrough, a cooling box structure mounted in the cooling chamber below the top wall and having an insulating material support for a solidified gas refrigerant at its upper side beneath the top wall aperture, a heat insulated vessel mounted in inverted position in and extending downwardly through the top wall aperture to said insulating material support, said vessel adapted to fit down over and cover refrigerant on said support and positioned with its lower edge spaced from the support to provide for passage of refrigerant gas outwardly past its lower edge into the cooling chamber, and said insulating material refrigerant support provided with a passage therethrough for downward fiow of refrigerant gas from the vessel into the cooling box structure.

19. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, the top wall of said chamber formed with an aperture therethrough, an insulating material sleeve fixed in and defining said top wall aperture, a heat insulated bell-jar mounted in and extending downwardly through said top wall aperture a distance into the cooling chamber, an elastic heat insulating material sleeve yieldably confined over and around the exterior of said jar and having an upper end flange therearound removably engaged on and around the upper end edge of said top wall aperture defining sleeve to thereby removably support said jar in position in the top wall aperture, and refrigerant supporting means at the lower end of the jar within the cooling chamber adapted to receive refrigerant thereon with the jar fitting over and covering the refrigerant.

20. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, the top wall of said chamber formed with a relatively large diameter passage therethrough, a low temperature cooling box structure within the cooling chamber beneath the top wall passage and spaced below said top wall, a solidified gas refrigerant support at the upper side of said cooling box-structure beneath said passage but spaced below the top wall for receiving the lower end of a block of refrigerant thereon through said passage, a heat insulating enclosure in said passage, over and surrounding a block of refrigerant therein, and said enclosure closing said passage and extending downwardly therefrom below the top wall through the cooling space to the refrigerant support on the cooling box structure with the exterior surface of the wall of the insulating enclosure between the refrigerant support and the top wall directly exposed to the cooling space.

21. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, the top wall of said chamber formed with a vertical passage therethrough, a low tempera- 1 ture cooling box structure within the cooling chamber spaced a distance below the top wall, an insulating material plate member on the upper side of the cooling box structure beneath said top wall passage for supporting a block of solidified gas refrigerant thereon in thermal relation with said cooling box structure to obtain low temperatures therein, a heat insulating enclosure in and extending downwardly from the top wall passage to the plate member for fitting down over i and covering a block of refrigerant thereon, and the lower open end of said insulated enclosure spaced from and around said refrigerant supporting plate member for passage of refrigerant gas outwardly from the enclosure between said plate 1 and the lower end of the enclosure.

22. In combination, in a refrigerator having a cooling compartment therewithin, a passage formed downwardly through the top wall of said compartment, a support for a block of solidified gas refrigerant disposed in the compartment below said top wall passage and presenting a substantially horizontal refrigerant supporting surface, a vacuum insulated vessel mounted in inverted position in and extending downwardly I from the top wall passage to the horizontally disposed surface of said refrigerant support for enclosing a block of refrigerant on said support, insulating material surrounding said vessel in the top wall passage and together with the vessel closing said passage, and said insulating material terminating at the lower end of the passage with the wall of the vessel between the lower end of the passage and said refrigerant support directly exposed to the cooling space of the compartment for an appreciable distance within the cooling space below the compartment top wall.

23. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin, a heat insulated vessel inverted and removably mounted extending inwardly through a wall of the refrigerator a distance into the cooling chamber, means supported independently of the vessel and disposed at the inner end thereof within the cooling chamber for supporting a block of refrigerant and maintaining the same within and enclosed by the inverted heat insulated vessel, and the outer side wall of the vessel between the refrigerator wall and the inner end of the vessel within the cooling chamber directly exposed to the space therearound.

24. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin, a, heat insulated vessel inverted and removably mounted in and extending downwardly through an upper wall of the cooling chamber a. distance into the chamber, means within the cooling chamber beneath the inner end of said heat insulated vessel for supporting a block of refrigerant thereon with the vessel extending down over and enclosing a block of refrigerant on said means, and said inverted vessel vertically movable independently of said refrigerant support means to adjust the position of the inner end of the vessel relative to said means, therebeneath. a

25. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therewithin, a heat insulated vessel inverted and removably mounted in and extending downwardly through the top wall of the refrigerator into the cooling chamber, means at the lower end of the insulated vessel within the cooling chamber for supporting a block of solidified gas refrigerant within and substantially enclosed by the vessel, and said refrigerant supporting means and lower end of the vessel providing for escape of refrigerant gas therebetween from the vessel.

26. In a refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, a cold compartment forming structure within the cooling chamber, a heat insulated enclosure for a solidified gas refrigerant at the upper side of said compartment forming structure within the cooling chamber, said structure providing a refrigerant support at the lower side of said enclosure, the support and enclosure formed for flow of refrigerant gas from the enclosure in heat exchange relation with the cold compartment formed by said compartment forming structure, and the said structure providing for fiow of gas therefrom in heat exchange relation with the cooling chamber of the refrigerator.

27. In a refrigerator utilizing a solidified gas as a refrigerant, said refrigerator having a cooling chamber therein, a cold compartment forming structure within the refrigerator, 9, heat insulated enclosure the inner end thereof within the refrigerator adjacent the compartmentforming structure for receiving and enclosing a charge of solidified gas refrigerant, said cold compartment structure providing a refrigerant support at the inner end of said enclosure, said enclosure and support providing for flow of cold refrigerant gas from the enclosure in heat exchange relation with the cold compartment formed by said structure, and said structure providing for fiow of cold gases in heat exchange relation with the cooling chamber within the refrigerator.

28. In combination with a compartment having an opening to the interior thereof, a cooling unit comprising a chamber formed of a hollow wall with elements thereof in parallelism and an opening transversing said wall elements, said unit mounted in and extending through said compartment wall opening and a distance into said compartment, a member of heat insulating material having a shoulder and encircling said opening at a distance therefrom, and said shoulder being adapted for seating upon the edge of said compartment opening to present the chamber opening to the interior of said compartment with the chamber wall between the opening and said encircling member directly exposed in the compartment.

29. In combination, in refrigerating apparatus, a heat insulating wall structure providing an enclosed cooling compartment therewithin, a passage formed downwardly through the top wall of said structure and opening into the compartment, a heat insulated vessel mounted in inverted position in and extending downwardly from the top wall passage an appreciable distance into the compartment with the wall of the vessel for the distance between the lower end thereof and the compartment top wall directly exposed to the cooling space of the compartment, a solidified gas refrigerant support at and substantially closing the lower open end of said vessel within the compartment, said support providing a refrigerant supporting surface in a plane above the lower edge of the vessel within the compartment whereby the refrigerant in the vessel is supported above such lower edge, and the said refrigerant support formed and mounted for passage of refrigerant gas from the lower end of the vessel.

30. In a refrigerator, a heat insulating wall structure providing an enclosed cooling compartment therewithin, a wall of said structure formed with a passage therethrough opening into said compartment, a heat insulated vessel mounted in inverted position fitting into and extending inwardly through said passage and for an appreciable distance therefrom into said compartment with the wall of said vessel for the distance between its inner end and said structure wall directly exposed in and to the cooling compartment space whereby cold losses outwardly along the vessel wall through the wall passage are reduced, and a support for solidified gas refrigerant positioned at the inner end of said vessel within the cooling compartment for holding refrigerant in and enclosed by the heat insulated vessel, said support providing for escape of re-*- frigerant gas from the inner end of the vessel,

HANS RUFENER. 'I'HEOPHIL EICHMANN. 

